Camp beds can often be quite uncomfortable, for those who are used to softer, more plusher mattresses at home.
However, in theory they enhance your comfort and warmth, thus providing a better night's sleep. The main advantage is the elevation it gives a camper from the cold ground.
One common mistake people make is not to check the size of their tent’s inner tent - to ensure it can fit, as some inners are too shallow to take one in the sleeping space. Ideally, your tent inner will need a depth of 225cm to comfortably accommodate a camp bed.
Camp beds often lack the comfort of an air bed or self inflating mattress, so this blog is written to help improve the comfort of your camp bed, whether you own a single or double.
Pick the right size
If you are over 6 foot tall, or you like plenty of comfort and space, it may be advisable to buy an XL sized camp bed, as it will be longer for taller people, and wider also for larger people needing more space. If your legs are dangling over the edge, this is no good, you need the correct sized bed for your size. To help, below I have listed the sizes of regular, xl and double options, and their pack sizes, to ensure you have the space in the boot of the car.
Regular Size Measurements:
- Open size: W66 x L92 x H45 cm
- Pack size: 96 x 15 x 12 cm
- Weight: 7.5kg
- Max Load: 125 kg
Example: Single Campbed
XL Size Measurements
- Open Size: L212 x W77 x H48cm
- Packed Size: 106 x 16 x 15cm
- Weight: 9.6kg
- Max Load: 125kg
Example: XL Campbed
Double Measurements
- Open Size: W132cm x L192cm x H45cm
- Pack Size: 97 x 27 x 20 cm
- Weight: 13.5 Kg
- Max Load: 2 x 125 Kg
Example: Double campbed
Add a Double Duvet Folded in Half (Budget Option) (for Single Camp Beds)
If you have a spare double bed sized duvet, one handy trick it to fold the duvet in half, and then place it on top of the bed. This will add as a nice buffer for your sleeping bag, and will make your sleep more comfortable, and also add far more warmth.
Add a Self Inflating Mattress (Single)
The best option is to add a self inflating mattress to your camp bed, as this will really increase your comfort. The more comfortable and luxurious the mattress is, the better it will feel. If you own a single model- I highly recommend anything above 5cm. You will notice most camp beds have the facility for attaching one - the straps which hold the mattress is place on top of the bed. Ideally for premium comfort, go for anything over 10cm. Below are some examples are recommendations:
- Budget: 7.5cm Single - will provide adequate comfort, and elevation.
- Luxury: 10cm Single - will provide a more comfortable depth, and this type of mat is very comfortable used alone or with a camp bed.
Add a Self Inflating Mattress (Double)
Anyone who owns a double version will realise very quickly, they are not the most comfortable pieces of camping furniture. They have a steel bar running directly down the middle, which can be very annoying if you like to invade your partner’s side of the bed. If you own a double, the best advice to to look at a 10cm mattress, as this will have enough depth to hide the feeling of the steel bar in the middle.
- Budget: 10cm Double: I say budget, but this is our best selling combination - a 10cm mattress and Posadas Double - provides a very comfortable night's sleep, and hides the middle steel bar very well.
- Luxury: 15cm Double: If you are really wanting to go all out in pursuit of camping perfection, look no further than the Shangri-la 15cm - a luxury self inflating mattress, with memory foam, and an unrivalled comfort.
Can I use an air bed on top of my camp bed?
In theory, there is no reason why you could not use an air bed and camp bed in unison. However, airbeds have a lot of depth, so it you put one on top of a camp bed - it will be a very tall bed, which is not ideal for fitting into your inner tent as it may start to push the inner tent fabric into the flysheet fabric, which can lead to a leaking tent, or stretching of the fabric.